After beating Villarreal 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, Ajax were set to face 15th-placed FC Volendam in the Johan Cruyff ArenA as the record champions attempted to win two consecutive games for the first time in 2026.
Youri Baas and 18-year-old Aaron Bouwman kept their places in the backline, while 19-year-old Rayane Bounida returned to the starting lineup in place of Oscar Gloukh. Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu made his debut in the matchday squad, while striker Wout Weghorst returned from injury.
The Amsterdam giants controlled the game early on with attempts from Bounida and fellow youngster Sean Steur testing Kayne van Oevelen, who had no answer to Youri Baas' header that put Ajax up one in the 13th minute.
FC Volendam almost answered accordingly through Joel Ideho, who had his effort from Volendam's kick-off saved by Liverpool loanee Vitezslav Jaros.
However, Ajax resumed control and peppered Van Oevelen's goal with attempts from Bounida, Mika Godts, Kasper Dolberg and the young Aaron Bouwman, who had his effort cleared from the goal line.
It was Baas who made the Johan Cruyff ArenA erupt again, though, as the centre-half headed in his second goal from another Rayane Bounida corner.
Both the hosts and visitors came close to a third goal of the afternoon before the break, with Dolberg's header failing to beat Van Oevelen and Dave Kwakman's rocket from distance hitting Jaros' post.
Ajax showed more of the same dominance following half-time, but barely kept the foot on the throttle. Interim manager Fred Grim's side only managed three negligible efforts before the 70th minute.
That's when Ajax upped the pressure and created their biggest chance of the half via Davy Klaassen, who was left to rue his mistakes as Van Oevelen saved Volendam from conceding what should've been a third Ajax goal.
Mika Godts then got a good shot at putting Ajax up three, but failed to do so, just like Anton Gaaei and substitute Jorthy Mokio in injury time, leaving the final score at 2-0.
Ajax leapfrogged rivals Feyenoord, who are yet to play this weekend, into second place ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League game against Greek giants Olympiakos.
Check out the match statistics on Flashscore
